President Donald Trump had been sitting in the State Dining Room for an hour and twenty-two minutes Wednesday, listening patiently as a panel of right-wing influencers recounted various tales of violence at the hands of Antifa, when an unexpected visitor arrived at the door.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stepping into the room from the Cross Hall, whispered a few words to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles before Trump asked him the question he’d spent the last hour or so quietly wondering: “Any news from the Middle East?”

Indeed there was, Rubio told him. But he would have to wait to deliver it until reporters had departed.

Trump didn’t seem in any particular hurry. As he called on the next participant to speak, a visibly anxious Rubio grabbed a notepad and pen to scribble out a message.

“Very close,” he wrote, underlining the words for emphasis. “Need you to approve a Truth social post soon so you can announce deal first.”

The deal Trump would announce two hours later appeared to be a breakthrough. Israel and Hamas agreed to a release of all the hostages held in Gaza for an exchange of Palestinian prisoners, as well as a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the besieged enclave.

It is too early to declare the war over. A number of issues remain outstanding, and further negotiations could uncover unbridgeable gaps between the two sides.

Yet after months of false hope, stalled progress and entrenched positions, the agreement was a clear victory for a president who has, in recent weeks, seemed intent on willing his plan into reality. He said Wednesday, before announcing the deal, that he planned to travel soon to the region to see it enacted.

Trump pushes through concerns from Arab, Israeli leaders

At multiple junctures, Trump has plowed ahead with his sweeping 20-point framework, bypassing